The Brampton Inferno hope they have shored up their goaltending with the addition of former Junior A Excelsiors netminder, and Brampton native, Steve Fryer with the first overall pick in the Canadian Lacrosse League’s (CLAX) National Lacrosse League Supplemental Draft.
Brampton general manager and head coach Brian Beisel knows just what he’s getting in Fryer, who backstopped Brampton to second-place in the Minto Cup during his time with the Excelsiors. Fryer was the team’s starting goaltender while Beisel was behind the bench for their run at a Canadian title.
And following his time with the Excelsiors the 6-foot 1 ballstopper was traded to Coquitlam, where he again finished with Minto Cup silver.
Beisel gave up a handful of players and draft picks for the first selection in the draft, and wasted no time in grabbing his former starting goaltender.
“We were shocked he was available,” said Beisel. “I feel he’s an NLL goalkeeper and believe he’ll go back there.”
Last season Fryer was the back-up netminder for the NLL’s Philadelphia Wings, dressing for 11 games and seeing action in two— both appearances coming in relief.
“I think it give us the best goaltending tandem in the league,” added the Brampton bench boss. Fryer will suit up with NLL veteran goaltender Jay Preece to man the crease for the Inferno.
Brampton also grabbed former Peterborough Lakers sniper Josh Gillam in the third round of the supplemental draft, but Beisel isn’t sure he’ll suit up with the Inferno.
“We took a flyer on him,” admitted Beisel. “He’s playing pro hockey in Europe. Last year he came back and played late in the season.”
In fact, Gillam played six regular season games for the Minnesota Swarm in 2012, netting four goals and nine assists for 13 points. He also played in a pair of post-season games, picking up a pair of assists.
The Inferno has an exhibition game slated for Sunday, Jan. 6 at Stephen Leacock Arena in Scarborough against the Toronto Shooting Stars.
They open the CLAX season on Saturday, Jan. 19 when they travel to the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena to take on the Ohsweken Demons in a 1 p.m. start.